Muthappan Temple

Parassinikadavu Muthappan temple is a temple, located at AnthoorMunicipality on the banks of the Valapattanam river about 10 km from Taliparamba and 16 km from KannurCity in Kannur District, Kerala.[2][3] Principal deity of the temple is Sree Muthappan, whose divinity is presented as a ritualistic theyyam enactment in two versions called Thiruvappana and Vellattam. According to the local tradition the presiding deity is a manifestation of Shiva.[4]

Vellattam and Thiruvappana are the generic names for two types of ' Theyyam Ketti-aadal ' in the kavu/temples of North Malabar.

Vellattom is a minor version of the ritual enactment where the ornaments, decorations and parapharnelia are minimal thanks to which all actions including vaaythari (speech) is maximum and Attam (dance) will be at its peak. If you compare this level of enactment to the idol of a deity in a temple sanctum which is installed as per sathwic sasthra and vedic rituals, Vellattom is at par with the idol alone without the prabha-mandalam which circles it. A more easier example is the Seeveli ceremony with only the small idol on top of the elephant.

On the other hand, Thiruvappana is the full version, with royal regalia and bigger dimension of prabhamandalam. Because the decorations are more and are of binding nature, the action is minimal and sluggish and the uriyaadal (replies to prayers) will be crisp, to the point and predictions will be accurate. To compare, Thiruvappana stands at par with temple idol with the Prabha-mandalam (representing the auric circle) around it and the Seeveli with the big Swarna-Kolam covering the small idol on top of the elephant .

Muthappan is considered as the manifestation of Lord Shiva himself in Nayattu (hunter) format. The Vellattam which comes initially is Siva himself as the said minimal version. But the Vellattom which comes along with the grand Thiruvappana of Muthappan later on, is the minimal version of Vishnu who according to mythology, comes to Siva’s assistance when he started travelling with the poykannu (blindfold) and started suffering serious difficulties to travel and hunt for food.

Rituals of the temple is unique in that it does not follow the SatvicBrahminical form of worship, as in other Hindu temples of Kerala. The main mode of worship is the ritual enactment of both the versions of Muthappan, through a traditional dance known as Muthappan Theyyam.[4][5] Fish, meat and toddy are the customary offerings to Muthappan.[6]Muthappan Thiruvoppana Mahothsavam is the major festival of the temple, celebrated for three days every year on 19, 20 and 21 of Kumbham (the days correspond to 3, 4 and 5 March).

The legends of Muthappan

A view of the Muthappan temple

A version of the legend of Ponnu Muthappan is narrated here: The King of Ancharamana in Eruvessi village and his wife, Padikutty Antharjanam, had no offsprings. Padikutty was an ardent devotee of Shiva and when she found a baby floating in a basket of flowers in the river water when she was coming back after a bath in the river, she took it as the blessing of Lord Shiva, and so was her husband. The child grew up and in his boyhood, he was always for the benefit of downtrodden and poor people. However, to the agony of his family he practiced hunting, and also started eating flesh, which was not allowed for a Naduvazhi. Unable to bear the indictments from his family, the boy decided to leave home. When his mother attempted to stop him, he looked at her in fury and appeared in his original godly figure before the parent. She bowed down before her son. Nonetheless, she requested him to cover his eyes with a Poikannu, a type of shield for the eyes, since she was afraid that such a fiery look on another occasion may cause to emanate the cosmic force, Shakti, that could change the entire world. Wearing a shield on his eyes, he left the family, and passed through various villages in Malabar, such as Kunnathurpadi, Puralimala, Padavil, Thillenkeri, Kannapuram, Parassinikadavu and Valluvankadav.[5][7]

The legend relates Muthappan with a tribal family for the divine boy started being called as "Muthappan". Accordingly, when he reached a village called Kunnathurpadi, he got a tribalman, Chantan as his friend. One day, when he saw Chantan tapping toddy from Palm tree the boy asked for it but was denied. All of sudden, Chantan was cursed and became a stone. His wife prayed and offered to perform the rituals, Oottu, Tiruvappana and Amruthakalasam, to propitiate the boy in the month of Dhanu. The boy relented and gave her husband back. The Chantan family started to conduct pooja to propitiate the boy and they called him in the name: "Muthappan".

However, according to another version of the legend Muthappan climbed the coconut tree and emptied the toddy jar in the absence of Chantan. When Chantan returned and saw Muthappan holding the jar, he was provoked and defied the latter. It was at this instant, Chantan was cursed.[7]

The legend also describes a dog which always followed Muthappan throughout his journey. Hence, in the temple of Muthappan, dogs are considered divine and the temple entrance has an idol of dog, at both sides.[5]

Rituals and festivals

The ritualistic enactment of both the minimal and maxima versions of Sree Muthappan, Thiruvappana and Vellattam, is performed daily in the early morning and in the evening. Puthari Thiruvappana festival, conducted on 16 Vrichikam (this Malayalam day corresponds to 1 or 2 December), is the first Thiruvappana of the temple year. It is associated with the harvesting season of the region. The last Thiruvappana of the temple year is on 30 Kanni every year.[8]

External links

Anthoor is a town with a municipality in the Kannur district of the North Malabar region in the Indian state of Kerala. Anthoor is located roughly 14 km from the Kannur Corporation, and it is adjacent to the Taliparamba municipality.

Dharmashala is a small town and headquarters of the Anthoor Municipality in Kannur district of the North Malabar region in the Indian state of Kerala. It is located near National Highway 66 between Kannur and Taliparamba. It is located about 15 kilometres (9.3 mi) north of Kannur. Dharmashala is an important educational and industrial hub in the Kannur district and also an important tourism destination of Malabar region. Dharmashala is a major government officials settlement area in Kannur. A large number of migrant labourers from various other states are working in the industrial development area in Dharmashala. Students from various parts of country study at institutes such as NIFT. Nearby important institutions and attractions are the Kerala Armed Police (KAP) 4th Battalion Mangattuparamba, Government College of Engineering Kannur, Kannur University, KELTRON, Vismaya water theme park,Parassinikkadavu Sree Muthappan temple, Doordarshankendra, Parassinikkadavu Snake Park, Industrial Development Plot, Central School, EK Nayanar memorial women and child hospital, Si-met college of nursing, M.V.R memorial Ayurveda Medical College, Institute of Co-operative Management (ICM), National Institute of Fashion Technology, Vellikkeel eco tourism park, Hi-Five sports indoor stadium, Kerala Clays and Ceramics Ltd. etc.

Hinduism is the largest religion in Kerala and Hindu castes together make up 54% of the population of the state according to the 2011 census.

Several saints and movements existed. Adi Shankara was a Hindu philosopher who contributed to Hinduism and propagated philosophy of Advaita. He was instrumental in establishing four mathas at Sringeri, Dwarka, Puri and Jyotirmath. Melpathur Narayana Bhattathiri was another Brahmin religious figure who composed Narayaniyam, a collection of verses in praise of Krishna.

Various practises of Hinduism are unique to Kerala. Different cults of Shiva and Vishnu are popular in Kerala. Lord Krishna is worshipped widely in all parts of Kerala, Guruvayur being one of the most famous temples in the state. Malayali Hindus also worship Bhagavathi as a form of Shakti. Almost every village in Kerala has its own local guardian deity, usually a goddess. Hindus in Kerala also strongly believe in power of snake gods and usually have sacred snake groves known as Sarpa Kavu near to their houses.

Some of the most notable temples are: Guruvayur Temple, Thrissur Vadakkunnathan Temple, Sabarimala Ayyappa Temple, Thiruvananthapuram Padmanabhaswamy Temple, Aranmula Parthasarathy Temple, Chottanikkara Temple, Chengannur Mahadeva Temple, Parassinikadavu Muthappan Temple, Chettikulangara Devi Temple, Mannarasala Temple, Chakkulathukavu Temple, Thiruvalla Sreevallabha Temple, Kaviyoor Mahadevar Temple, Parumala Panayannarkavu Temple, Sree Poornathrayesa Temple, Kodungallur Bhagavathy Temple, and Rajarajeshwara Temple. Temples in Kerala follow elaborate rituals and only priests from the Nambudiri caste can be appointed as priests in major temples.But in 2017 as per the state government's decision, the priests from backward community was appointed. These priests are assisted by a caste known as Ambalavasis.

Malayali Hindus have unique ceremonies such as Chorunu (first feeding of rice to a child) and Vidyāraṃbhaṃ.

Kuruvannil Govindan Marar (b.September 17, 1934 - d.25 April 1995) was an Indian social worker,politician, former State president of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Kerala, India. He was the third son among four children of Narayana Marar and Nayan Marsyar.By occupation he was a teacher at Govt School Parassinikadavu (The school near to the famous Parassinikadavu Muthappan Temple, Kannur District, Kerala)and left his profession for being a full-time social worker. Arrested during Indian Emergency of 25 June 1975 – 21 March 1977, he was imprisoned for 18 months. After getting released from the jail K G Marar became the leader of Janata party and the District President of Kannur. In 1980 K G Marar became the State Secretary of BJP. He was very active in Kerala Political scenario and held various positions including State General Secretary and State President of BJP. He has actively represented BJP in various elections, the last one in 1991 where he got defeated by a wafer thin margin of 1000 votes from Mancheswaram constituency. His body was cremated at Payyambalam beach, Kannur.

Kummanam Rajashekharan became the second full-time worker for the RSS after Marar to hold the party state president portfolio.

The state committee office of Kerala BJP is named after K G Marar as Mararji smruthi mandiram.

Sree Muthappan (Malayalam: ശ്രീ മുത്തപ്പൻ) is a Thiyya kuladaiva (ancestral) deity commonly worshiped in the North Malabar region of Kerala and Coorg region of Karnataka, India.

Worship of Muthappan is unique in that it does not follow the Satvic Brahminical form of worship, as in other Hindu temples of Kerala. Worshipping system is according to Shakteyam where Panja-ma-kara are offered including Madhyam ( Toddy) and Mamsam (flesh-fish) The main mode of worship is via a ritual enactment of Muthappan, performed daily at the Parassinikadavu temple. Fish and toddy is used as an offering to Muthappan, and people of all castes, religions and nationalities are permitted to enter the temple and take part in the worship.

Muthappan is the principal deity in the ritualistic Theyyam dance (Muthappan Theyyam) performed in the famous Parassinikkadavu temple. The ritual performers of Muthappan Theyyam belong to the Vannan community of Kerala. The puja rituals and rites for Muthappan are performed by the Thiyya community.

Nileshwar Muthappan Madappura is a temple dedicated to the God Sree Muthappan in the town Nileshwar of Kasaragode district, Kerala state, South India. Sree Muthappan is the most popular local god in Kannur district and Kasaragod district of north Kerala.

Muthappan is also the theyyam (Muthappan theyyam) performed in the famous Parassinikkadavu temple.

Parassinkkadavu pronunciation is a small Templetown in Anthoor Municipality. This town is located about 16 km from Kannur Corporation in the Kannur district of Kerala state, south India. It is a famous tourist destination in North Malabar.

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There are places of worship considered important in the Kannur district. Kannur District (Malayalam: കണ്ണൂര്‍ ജില്ല) is one of the 14 districts in the state of Kerala, India. The town of Kannur is the district headquarters, and gives the district its name.

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